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Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Rick Ross:
The self-proclaimed "Boss" and former CO, has frequently been seen taking his shirt off to expose audiences everywhere to his Grimace-like appearance. There's no shame in his game though and for that he deserves some manner of recognition.
Jemal Countess, WireImage
AP
BlackVoices.com
Black and Green
Green in the Inner City: Majora Carter
Carter has become a green celebrity -- and improved the lives of New York denizens -- through her nonprofit, Sustainable South Bronx, which provided "green-collar" job training for the underprivileged. She now heads the Majora Carter Group, a green economic development consulting firm.
Black and Green
Green in Washington: Jerome Ringo
When Ringo was elected chair of the National Wildlife Federation in 2005, the lifelong environmentalist became the first African American to head a major conservation group. Ringo, who is a member of Newsweek's Environment and Leadership Council, is now the president of the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of labor, environmental, national security, civil rights and business leaders who promote energy independence.
Black and Green
Green in Hip-Hop: Rev. Lennox Yearwood
Hip-hop and environmentalism aren't two things that are generally associated with each other, but Yearwood is trying to change that with his organization, Hip Hop Caucus. The caucus recently announced its "Green the Block" campaign, which promotes environmental causes in the black community.
Black and Green
Green in the Kitchen: Bryant Terry
Terry, eco chef, food justice activist and author (he wrote 'Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine' and 'Grub: Ideas for an Urban Kitchen'), has dedicated his professional career to promoting a sustainable food system and shedding light on poverty as it relates to the availability of organic, healthy foods.
Black and Green
Green in the Government: Lisa P. Jackson
When President Barack Obama appointed Jackson the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, she became the first African American and the fourth woman to hold the position. She also sparked controversy among some environmentalists who didn't like her record as head of environmental protection in New Jersey. Whether you love her or hate her, she should get props for being an African American woman in a powerful -- and green -- position.
Black and Green
Green in Travel: Frank & Audrey Peterman
During a 1995 road trip, Audrey and Frank Peterman fell in love with the beauty of America's natural landmarks but were concerned that so few of their fellow travelers were people of color. The trip inspired them to create Earthwise Productions, which publishes Pick Up and Go! an environmental and travel newsletter focusing on the contributions people of color have made to our national parks.
Black and Green
>Green in Corporate America: Karen Y. Ellis
This FedEx leader isn't some corporate executive who doesn't care about the affect her company has on the environment. FedEx's carbon footprint is anything but small, but as the company's director of corporate and international environmental programs, Ellis challenges her corporation and others to be more environmentally responsible.
Black and Green
Green in Higher Ed: Michael K. Dorsey
A Dartmouth University professor and a longtime member of the Sierra Club, Dorsey's work focuses on the intersection of finance, environmental policy and social justice. He was recently granted a prestigious Ford Foundation grant to support his climate change research.
Black and Green
Green in the Black Community: Naomi Davis
Davis is a Chicago-based attorney and activist who sits at the helm of not one but two green organizations: BIG: Blacks in Green, a nonprofit promoting environmental causes in the black community, and Daughter's Trust, a green economics consulting firm.
Black and Green
Green in the White House: Van Jones
One of the most famous faces in the green movement, Jones was the founding president of Green for All, an organization dedicated to economic development of the poor through the green economy. Surprise, surprise: He's now Barack Obama's Green Jobs Czar.
Black and Green
PHOTOS: Pre-Grammy Gala Becomes Whitney Memorial
Simon Cowell: Whitney Would've Been The Ultimate 'X Factor'…
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (10)
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By: tita on 7/05/2010 10:49AM
You are so right sir. I am a mother with two sons, age 2 and 4 and I am pulling my hair out right now because of what the future could hold for them. I am trying my best to do what i have to do in order to help them succeed in life not just financially but mentally and spiritually too. I am a hip hop fan and I do not discriminate against hip hop but some of the things some of these artists spit out of their mouth is ridiculous and lies. I cringe everytime I hear a rapper say on a song that life is not worth living if your not rich or telling people to commmit robberies and sell drugs to make money. I hope the real Freeway Rick Ross wins his case because the rap artist Rick Ross is only telling one half of a story that most teens or men take to heart that he himself never did.
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By: Tina on 7/07/2010 2:56PM
Once again I disagree with you Dr. Boyce. But I must say I don't total disagree with you. Yes we should mindful of what we teach our sons and who/what they should idolize. However, another vaild point is that if you do choose to replicate someone else's identity or likeness. Then make sure you have your ducks in a role and get the proper consent. Sometimes it's not really what you do. It's how you do it. To just mention or highlight one aspect of this matter further creates shame and misunderstanding/division in the minds of all youth.
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By: ukno on 7/05/2010 11:58PM
Well her and the other girls put out "SURVIVOR" about the original members of DC AFTER her father/mother and o' Kelly did them wrong with managing them as a BEYONCE and not a group trying to halt their career and blessings when they deserved as much success as she did. Now Kelly can't hardly do anything b/c of it either but he is/was her father too..mmmh hmmm!!!!!. I SAY "KARMA IS A BIG BYTCH". You don't do wrong to the other people and not expect it to bite you in the ass the worse way and for the KNOWLES family this can't get any worse or could it. Unless Beyonce' use her head to get all the info. on that woman she can and hope it doesn't lead back to her own husband I'm just gonna put that shit on out there b/c think about it what is the worst you can do to gain your wife total attention and TRUST OTHER THAN TO BRING A WOMAN TO SEDUCE HER FATHER AND HE GET A BABY; you guys seen "MOTIVES" come on. From the beginning Beyonce' made more money than her husband and still making more money hell she taking care of his ass and it won't never be the other way around. She'll be changing his diapers soon come on. She couldv'e been a ploy from the start to extract from her father. If her husband becomes the manager he gets all the money. Mmh I wonder does she still wants her born son to be like her father now....KARMA.....KARMA....KARMA....KARMA. I BET THEY DIDN'T SEE THIS ONE COMING HUH????
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By: gsARCADE on 7/06/2010 2:21AM
LETS STAY ON TOPIC NOW...THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT RIC ROSS NOT BEYONCE AND YOUR HATRED TOWARDS A SUCCESFULL BLACK WOMAN WHO YOU AND MY EX-GIRLFRIEND ENVY...SMH
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By: ilovedip81 on 7/06/2010 1:28PM
Rick Ross can use any name he likes as long as the name is not patent....
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By: Scotty Reid on 7/07/2010 12:07AM
As long as white men are controlling the record industry, all you are going to get is the promotion of booty shakin, dope dealing & smoking and other detrimental behaviors. Of course lets not forget these negros all to wiling to sell out for bling and fame and then lets not forget our ignorant masses who idolize them. Unless the CIA stooge and drug dealing Rick Ross trademarked his name before going to prison, I do not think he has a case. We would be better off if neither of these mofos were born.
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By: Tina on 7/07/2010 3:09PM
Tita,
Girl, I know exactly what you mean. However, I have found it very important to actually listen to what my son and daughter listen to. It keeps me in the loop on what subilimal messages that may or may not be getting through. It's not enough anymore to just get them involved in sports and activities. We actually have to also be all up in their business! I am serious! Children are individuals and they have rights. However, for some reason we have lost our minds in the black community by thinking we have to explain everything to our kids all the time. I grew up with a active knowledge of the phrase, "Because I said so." Now that doesn't me tune your child(ren) out or make them feel you don't respect their feelings and space. It simply means when I was a kid, I did kid things. Their brains have very little range a capabilities to embrace half the complex issues we introduce them to. The ones that are introduced to these complex matter pay a very costly price sometimes death. So all I can say is, Pray, Keep your head up, Pray, Listen, Pray,Observe,Pray and last but not least laugh and blast your music taste from time to time and stop to discuss it. Don't blast your music if you and your child are 10 years apart and you guys listen to the same artists. Have fun with it.
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By: roy on 7/08/2010 2:20PM
This is deep, an X prison guard takes on the idenity and name of a well known drug dealer. He makes rap songs about the things the drug dealer did to get locked up. Now that drug dealer got beef with Him. Forget the courts let them handle this in the streets.
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By: dan williams on 8/23/2010 12:06AM
amen scooty reid
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By: michael gordon on 10/03/2010 2:13AM
hello my name is michael gordon i started a company for unfortunate kids the company is for kids that dont have parent or parent are in jail or kids that bin abused i ran a media company for over 5 year i then said to my self its time to put my heart in to what i like to do and its to help these kids that are left out in the cold with no 1 or nothing rick ross these kids love u and a lot of other rapper like drake young jezzy jay z all the biggest people that are doing it right now this company will give these unfortunate kids from 1 and up the opertunaty to rebuild there life they can start learning how to act sing dance art what ever there good at doning i really think this will be a good program for the youth to who ever read this send this around couse u are a supporter and u are a hiphopkidsolver i need everybody to come together as 1 and lets get this sponser to get these kids a center and i need help doing it so please if its apart of something u are will to do to help these kids contact me at 609 4900339 or gordonbi@verizon.net thank u godbless
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